À propos de l’œuvre
Tournesols, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · January 1889 · Arles, France
Sunflowers, Philadelphia versionReproduction of oil painting on canvas
Twelve sunflowers at different stages of flowering overflow from a simple vase. Van Gogh paints this variation in the middle of winter, from memory, and almost entirely transforms the canvas into a study of yellows, ochres and greens.
Look at the work
Twelve flowers, twelve different presences
The flower heads overlap without forming a regular bouquet. Some bristle with petals, others show a large brown heart or begin to wither. Green stems and curved leaves connect this constellation to the vase placed on a yellow table.
Van Gogh created this painting in January 1889 as a variation of the composition with twelve sunflowers painted in Arles in August 1888, today in Munich. He does not mechanically copy the first painting: he individualizes the flowers more and pushes the general agreement of the yellows further.
The repetition of a restricted range reveals an astonishing diversity of shapes, materials and states of the flower.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Philadelphia version should be distinguished from other Sunflowers by the exact arrangement of its twelve flowers, its yellow background and its colorful accents.
A fan composition
The large heads form an irregular crown around the axis of the vase. The top flowers extend the vertical, while the lower leaves open the bouquet towards the sides.
Yellow in variations
Lemon, ocher, mustard, golden brown and cream juxtapose. Greens and some red or blue accents prevent the warm range from becoming uniform.
A thick material
Petals and hearts are constructed by impasto, small commas and radiant lines. This texture gives each flower its own density.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
The Philadelphia Art Museum dates this version to 1889 and describes it as a new interpretation made from memory during the winter.
The Sunflowers of Arles
Van Gogh imagined several bouquets to decorate the Yellow House and welcome Paul Gauguin. Five large versions are now kept in international collections.
After the Munich canvas
This painting takes up the composition with twelve flowers created in August 1888, but modifies the colors, contours and personality of each flower head.
Inventory 1963-116-19
The work belongs to the Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Tyson, Jr. of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The painter must differentiate each of the twelve flowers, maintain the design of the stems and recreate the richness of the yellows without flattening the impasto.
- The exact arrangement of the twelve flower heads and leaves
- Brown hearts modeled in small radiant touches
- Shades of yellow on the background, table and petals
- The outline of the vase and the thin horizontal line of the table
Work sheet
| Title | Sunflowers, Philadelphia version |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | January 1889 |
| Place of creation | Arles, France |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 92.4 × 71.1 cm |
| Inventory | 1963-116-19 |
| Conservation | Philadelphia Art Museum, Philadelphia |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A solar icon for a living room
The vertical bouquet naturally becomes the focal point of a living room, dining room or entrance. Its yellows warm light walls, natural woods, midnight blue and ecru textiles.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The visual reference is the Google Art Project's high-definition image associated with the Philadelphia painting, reduced to 3,000 px and converted to WebP without artificial enlargement.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
